Reply With QuoteOysterflex?
I am considering a new watch strap. I have an alligator strap that looks nice but I just find it a bit stiff. Even after wearing it for quite some time it does not really soften up as much as I would like.
If I want a soft supple comfortable strap, what is a good material? Cordovan? Calfskin? Suede? Shark? Ostrich? Something else?
Thanks for your help.
Oysterflex?
Oysterflex 'bracelet'!Originally Posted by W44NNE
Thanks, I am sure it is comfy but I am not a great fan of rubber.
Have you tried Denim or Kevlar?
Nope.
A soft leather ? Must be an obvious choice or am I missing the point of the OPs thread.
Ok, I will be more specific. I have seen some straps online made of cordovan leather. Is it soft and supple? If it is stiff I do not want it.
Not a fan of Cordovan, am afraid. Have seen both supple and stiff. Depends how it is made.
Ostrich is too scaly for my liking. The only shark straps I have liked have been Dirks which are really pricey.
Like Calf and Croc( particularly horn back)
Am a big fan of Paneria Jule Verne made from nu buck alligator or similar straps made by third parties.
Cordovan is a leather used for shoe making.Its from the rump of a horse so I think it wouldn't match your requirements.I still don't understand why a soft leather would not suit.
Soft leather would suit perfectly. The problem is that when you buy online there is no way to touch it and to ascertain whether it is soft or not.
Thanks, RAJEN, that is very helpful.
Then my best advise is don't buy it on line.Plenty of high street shops out there and you can fill your boots.
Rolex do a few nice ones.
I'm a big fan of shell cordovan straps from Rover Haven. I'm up to six or seven now and they are incredibly comfortable. Soft, lightweight, and custom made to your specifications. Highly recommended if you're after a soft leather strap.
- Matt (no relation to the vendor, just a very satisfied customer)
Many thanks. This is the kind of information I was after.
Last edited by GrandS; 20th March 2015 at 04:39.
Softest strap material I ever had was Ostrich. Was almost buttery soft.
Okay, might not be want you want given the comment above about rubber, but for a leather strap that conforms to your wrist shape one of my favs is the Hirsch Performance range.
Ive had a few and my fav is the calf leather that looks like a leather strap but is a veneer of leather on a soft rubber backing ... perfect strap IMHO.
Incidentally, IMO with a traditional made strap the softness isnt just about the facing material, its more about the thickness of the strap and what the core is made from ... if thats a tough old bit of leather then whether the facing is nubuck, croc, or ostrich will make little difference.
I fancy a red suede for my sub, I had a beige one on an obris morgan and it was super soft and comfy
I am lucky that most straps i have bought were down to recommendations and good online reviews and most have been very comfortable.
The 3 softest leather straps have been a vintager, a hirsch duke and amazingly a cheap oil tanned hadley roma strap from Weston
I have tried to buy another hadley roma but they have been out of stock for months
The softest and most supple leather I have felt in a watch strap is the strap that came with the Precista PRS-9 CAF. It's glove leather made by Pittards.
I don't have much experience with cordovan except from cordovan boots. I would think it would make nice strap but probably not buttery soft.
You could take a look at Tender's vegetable tanned straps. Probably not for everyone but I like it and it is very soft and comfortable. Perhaps vegetable tanned leather in general would be something to look for if you want soft and don't mind it taking on some patina.
Which watch is the strap for?
Cheers
Mabuse
So probably goat skin with a soft canvas core then.
You could try the method that native Americans used to soften the leather for their moccasins - get your squaw to chew it for a few weeks.
Horween leather straps always seem to do it for me
Sounds like good advice. As an added bonus she will be unable to talk at the same time.
The main things to bear in mind.
The fewer the layers, the softer it will be. An RAF style "NATO" or simple slip through will, with almost any single layer of leather, be soft and supple, especially if you pre-work it by flexing. Toshis are all lovely and soft when worked.
A lot of commercial strap padding is actually an impregnated cardboard carcasse, or sometimes even a plastic one. Sandwiched between two further layers of leather, and then stitched makes it even stiffer.
I have a Horween NATO from Fluco, and it is beautifully soft. However, I was lucky to get it as a bargain, and I would never pay what some people charge for them, it's just silly.
There is nothing inherently super soft / comfy about horse leather per se.
Dave
The skin of my victims...
... obviously only the stuff left over from the hats and masks I make from them...
I reckon those cork straps that were discussed a while ago could be pretty comfortable. I wouldn't mind trying one.
My experience of cordovan / horween leather is it's very stiff and takes some breaking in...i got bored waiting / trying...
Suede?
Thanks for the input. This is what I use at the moment, from RIOS.
Thanks for the input. This is what I use at the moment, from RIOS.
Why? Blue face with black strap.Your having a giggle aren't you
Yes, its not easy...
Have a look at this website. I would highly recommend.
http://www.hirschag.com/en/hirsch-bracelet-assortment/#
Many thanks, that is very useful.
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